The Help - Procrastination and Time Management (pt. 1)

Procastination is a vicious cycle: when presented with a difficult task if you get overwhelmed you feel pressured and fear failure so you try harder and work longer which results in feeling resentful and loosing motivation, sounds familiar? Well fear no more, the techniques I am about to reveal you will stop whatever it is that is keeping you from achieving your objectives. Humans need: Meaningful work, Responsability and Creativeness.

It is the freedom to choose, the personal commitment to a mission and the willingness to take responsibility for the consequences of one’s decisions that makes you strong and courageous. In order to achieve this, positive self-talk is vital: say “I want…”, “I decide…”, “I choose…” and direct energy to your goal with responsibility for the outcome. Cut the phrases  of victimisation and self pity such as “Have to …” “Hard…” and "Should...". Procrastinating stops us from working and playing and fills our time with meaningless unsatisfying short-term gains, so choose to commit to your objectives and make them fun.

We are motivated more by pleasure than by pain so give yourself immediate rewards after short periods of work.

The three main blocks to action are: the Terror of being overwhelmed, the Fear of Failure and the Fear of Finishing. So when faced with any task it's important that you Start somewhere, Give yourself time, Ask for help and Be patient with yourself.

Start with the end in mind and make small deadlines which you create along the way and work backwards from the finishing line. Focus on the here and now, have a realistic perspective and anticipate difficulties.Every time you worry develop an action plan and find solutions using this 6 step Process:

1. Ask "what is the worst that could happen?"
2. "What would I really do if the worst happened?"- Where could I get help- What would I do to cope with getting upset and loosing control?
- Then what would I do?
3. "How would I lesson the pain and get on with as much happiness as possible if the worst did happen?"4. "What alternatives would I have?"
5. "What can I do now to lesson the probability of this dreaded event occurring?"
- Think of a single action to lesson the worry
6. Is there anything I can do now to increase my chances of achieving my goal?"